More Things Irish

Festivities and celebrations for St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture begin tonight:

Join the Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library for a celebration of Irish folklore, culture and music tonight, March 11 at 7:30 pm, featuring: Marianne McShane, Sara McCabe & Maura Grace Harrington. Montclair’s Maura Harrington and South Orange’s Marta Deyrup are the authors of The Irish-American Experience in New Jersey and Metropolitan New York: Cultural Identity, Hybridity, and Commemoration, a collection of essays based on an Irish lecture series hosted at Seton Hall University. In time for St. Patrick’s Day, the book explores Irish-American life in our area and new insight into the experience of the Irish in New Jersey.

Sara McCabe has been singing professionally for 19 years and has performed as a featured vocalist at many concerts and events throughout the tri-state area. Her lilting voice is reminiscent of the sounds of the ancient sirens of the wild Atlantic sea off the west coast of Ireland.

Marianne McShane was born and raised in County Down, Ireland. McShane tells the history of her people as a singer, harpist, and Irish dancer. She blends all these skills into her lively presentations. Her lyrical storytelling, and soft Irish lilt, transports listeners to a Celtic otherworld of sea fairies and heroes, spells and enchantment.

The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of the Oranges today announced that Montclair resident, Michael D. Byrne, has been named “Young Irishman of the Year” and will be the guest of honor during its 113th Anniversary dinner on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at the Mayfair Farms restaurant, 481 Eagle Rock Ave., West Orange, NJ.

Mr. Byrne was raised in Montclair, where he still resides, and attended Seton Hall Prep and Montclair High School.  He has been active in local and state politics, Irish-American and other organizations and volunteer activities since a young age. Byrne will be honored for his work as General Chairman of the Newark St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee – the oldest St. Patrick’s Day parade in New Jersey. Additionally, William B. McGuire, Esq., a founding partner of the Newark law firm of Tompkins, McGuire and a past president of the New Jersey State Bar Association, will be the Guest Speaker at the event.

The evening will commence with a 6:30 cocktail hour. The West Orange Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh Pipers and harpist Elaine Christy of Princeton will entertain. Reservations for the black tie preferred event can be obtained from Patricia J. Cambouris, c/o Lowenstein Sandler, LLP, 65 Livingston Ave., Roseland, NJ 07068, 973-422-2974.

Part of the dinner’s proceeds will be donated to Project Children, which brings together Catholic and Protestant children from Northern Ireland on visits to the U.S., and part to the Irish Way Program of the Irish American Cultural Institute, which awards scholarships to Irish American high school students for summer study in Ireland, according to Mr. McNany.

Friends of Brian Boru, Inc., an Irish-American cultural and civic organization, will hold its 71st Annual Dinner-Dance on Wednesday, March 12, at Mayfair Farms, West Orange.

This year’s honorees are Carolyn A. Murray, acting Essex County prosecutor, Sr. Frances Sullivan, O.P., head of school at Mount Saint Dominic Academy in Caldwell, and Robert M. Ruane, former member of the N.J. Assembly who for more than 35 years volunteered for Project Children to aid youths in Northern Ireland.

Tickets are $80 each and can be obtained by calling 973-808-0022. More than 300 guests are expected to attend the dinner-dance, where entertainment will be provided by the Mickey Perry Band; the Essex County Emerald Society Police and Fire Pipes and Drums band; and step dancers from the Peter Smith School of Irish Dance.